Retractable igniter for internal combustion engines



Feb. 3, 1959 SIMON CHEN 2,872,496

RETRACTABLE IGNITER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed April 4. 1957 INVENTOR.

MK CM /PA'MJ Q-E9 combustion engines.

United States Patent RETRACTABLE IGNITER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTIGN ENGINES Simon K. 'Chen, Park Forest, IlL, assignor to International Harvester Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of New Jersey Application April 4,1957, Serial No. 650,610 11 Claims. c1. 123--169) This invention relates to an ignition device for internal More particularly the invention relates to a retractable igniter for starting diesel engines 'and particularly of the two and four cycle type.

It .is a prime object of this invention to improve the serv ce life of an igniter or a spark plug utilized for startmg an internal combustion engine of the diesel type, the

.said object being achieved by the provision of a retractabl'e ig'nition elernent which may be moved into a combustion chamber to start the engine, the said ignition .device being movable to an out-of-the-way position out of the combustion chamber during the operation of the engine.

.It is a prime object of this invention to provide an igniter for starting engines, the said igniter being movable to a non-operating position after the engine is in self sustaining operation.

It is a still further object to provide a retractable igniter adapted to be moved into position within a combustion the igniter positioned within the combustion chamber and during a closed position having the igniter isolated from the combustion chamber whereby during normal engine operation the igniter is not subjected to the conditions incident to the combustion of gases within the chamber.

These and further objects will become more readily apparent from a reading of the specification when examined in connection with the accompanying sheet of drawing.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view through a portion of an internal combustion engine and through an ignition device embodying the invention; and

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view through a portion of an ignition device showing a modified version of the invention.

Referring now to the embodiment shown in Figure l, a cylinder block is generally designated by the reference character 10. The cylinder block includes a cylinder head 11 seated upon a gasket 12. The portion of the engine shown may be part of a conventional diesel having a plurality of pistons 13 (only one of which is shown) reciprocally positioned with a cylinder 14. The upper end of the cylinder 14 is provided with a combustion chamber 15 adapted to communicate with a port 16. The port 16 is provided with an annular valve seat 17.

A valve supporting structure is generally designated at 18, the said structure forming an integral part of the cylinder head 11. The supporting structure 18 supports an ignition device generally indicated by the reference character 19. The valve supporting structure 18 is provided with an elongated bore 20 having at its lower end a bell-shaped cavity 21. The upper end of this valve supporting structure is provided with a suitable annular spring seat 22. A sleeve 23 is secured within the bore 20, the said sleeve 23 supporting a valve 24 having a stem 25, the said stem 25, being slidably disposed within the sleeve 23 whereby the valve may be suitably reciprocated. The valve 24 at its lower end includes a head 26, the said valve 24 also having an elongated bore 27. The head 26 is provided at its lower end with a valve element 28 adapted to engage the valve seat 17 for opening and closing the port 16.

The head 26 is provided 'with an enlarged bore 29 coaxial with the bore 27. A porcelain insulator 30 is suitably positioned within the bore 29. An electric wire 31 suitably encased in a rubber tube 32 is disposed within the bore 27. The wire 31 is of course connected to a suitable current distributor (not shown). The wire 31 is suitably connected at one end to a ball 33, the said end of the wire 31 projecting into a bore 34 formed in the insulator 30. A snap-on igniter or center electrode 35 includes a socket 36 which receives the ball 33 to suitably secure the igniter 35 to the electric wire 31.

An O-ring 37 is positioned at the upper end of the insulator 30 within the bore 34. The insulator is tightly held in position within the bore 34 by means of a threaded extension 38 formed on the head 26, the said threaded extension 38 engaging threads 39 formed on the valve element 28.

The valve element 28 is also provided with an opening 40, the said opening extending laterally completely through the said valve element. The igniter or center electrode 35 projects outwardly from the insulator 30 into the said opening 40 in close relation to a ground electrode 41 integrally formed on the valve element 28. The electrodes 35 and 41 are suitably spaced to provide a proper spark cap as indicated.

The valve 24 is thus reciprocally positioned and is normally urged to the closed position as indicated in Figure 1 wherein the valve element 28 is in seating relation with respect to the valve seat 17 to close the port -16. The spring 42 is held captive between the seat 22 and a block 43 connected to one end of the valve 2d. The cup 44 is seated over the upper end of the valve 24, the said cup being suitably engaged by camrning means (not shown) which is adapted to move the ignition device 19 against the action of the spring 42 downwardly to open the port 16 as shown in the broken line position of the valve in Figure 1.

During the starting of the diesel engine the ignition device is moved so that the valve element 28 opens the port 16 so that the igniter 35 is positioned within the combustion chamber. Operation of the igniter 35 provides for the starting of the engine after which the valve 24 is moved again to the closed position whereupon the igniter is positioned completely outside of the combustion chamber 15 and within the cavity 21. in other words, during the normal operation of the engine, after starting has been achieved, the igniter is completely isolated from the combustion chamber and thus is protected from en gine combustion. By thus protecting the i niter, much longer service life of the same is achieved and much better starting results. The cavity 21 and the amount of clearance between the cavity and the valve head 26 K may be designed so that a lower and more desirable compression ratio is achieved for facilitating the starting of the engine. Thus, besides providing for the isolation of the igniter or electrode 35, the cavity 21 also serves to assist in the lowering of the compression ratio.

Figure 2 shows a modified form of the invention wherein the valve 26 is provided with a valve element 45 having an enlarged recess or opening 46 in which a glow wire is positioned. The glow wire is suitably connected to the electrical wire 31 which is in communication with a source of electrical energy for causing energization of the glow wire 47. Operation of the device shown in Figure 2 is identical in that the glow wire 47 is protected from the combustion process during the normal operation by having the said glow wire disposed in the cavity after the starting of the engine.

It is now apparent that an improved ignition device has been described Which fully achieves the above stated objects. It must be understood that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as disclosed or the scope thereof as delined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An internal combustion engine comprising a combustion chamber having a port, an ignition device including a reciprocating valve, a valve element reciprocally operative with said valve and with respect to said port for opening and closing the same, said valve having an opening spaced longitudinally from said valve element, an igniter onsaid valve projecting into said opening, and means for moving said valve to open said port whereupon said opening communicates with said combustion chamber and said igniter is in operative relation thereto.

2. An internal combustion engine comprising a combustion chamber having a port, an ignition device including a reciprocating valve, a valve element reciprocally operative with said valve and with respect to said port for opening and closing the same, an igniter on said valve spaced from said valve element, and means for moving said valve to open said port whereupon said igniter is placed in operative relation to said combustion chamber.

3. An interinal combustion engine comprising a combustion chamber having a port adapted to communicate with said chamber, an ignition device including a movable valve having a stem and a head connected thereto, said head in one position closing said port and in a second position opening said port, an igniter carried by said valve, said igniter being positioned in longitudinally spaced relation from an end of said head whereby during the closed position of said head said igniter is isolated from said chamber and during the open position of said head said igniter is in operative relation to said chamber.

4. An internal combustion engine comprising a combustion chamber having a port adapted to communicate with said chamber, an ignition device including a movable valve, said valve in one position closing said port and in a second position opening said port, an igniter carried by said valve, said igniter being positioned in longitudinally spaced relation from an end of said valve whereby during the closed position of said valve said igniter is isolated from said chamber and during the open position of said valve said igniter is in operative relation to said chamber.

5. An internal combustion engine comprising a block, a combustion chamber in said block said block having a port adapted to communicate with said chamber and a valve seat associated with said port, an ignition device comprising a valve having a longitudinally extending body, a valve element on said body, means reciprocally mounting said valve in relation to said port, an igniter on said body, said igniter being spaced longitudinally from said valve element, and means for moving said valve in one direction whereby said valve element engages said valve seat and said igniter is positioned without said chamber, said valve being movable in a second direction whereby said valve element is disengaged from said valve seat and said igniter is positioned Within said chamber.

6. An internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder block, a combustion chamber in said block, said block including a valve port having a valve seat adapted to communicate with said combustion chamber, an ignition device comprising a support having a first elongated bore, said support including a cavity adapted to communicate with said combustion chamber through said port, a valve having a valve stem slidingly supported in said first bore for reciprocation of said valve, said valve having an enlarged head positioned within said cavity, a valve element on said head adapted to engage said valve seat during a closed position for closing said port to isolate said cavity from said combustion chamber, said enlarged head having an opening spaced longitudinally from said valve element and adapted to communicate with said combustion chamber during an open position of said valve, an electrode carried within the opening of said head, whereby during the open position of said valve said electrode is in operative relation with respect to said combustion chamber and during the closed position of said valve said electrode is disposed Within said cavity and said valve element closes said port.

7. An internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder block, a combustion chamber in said block, said block including a valve port having a valve seat adapted to communicate with said combustion chamber, an ignition device comprising a support, said support including a cavity adapted to communicate with said combustion chamber through said port, a valve reciprocally carried by said support, said valve having an enlarged head positioned within said cavity, a valve element on said head adapted to engage said valve seat during a closed position for closing said port to isolate said cavity from said combustion chamber, said enlarged head having an opening spaced longitudinally from said valve element and adapted to communicate with said combustion chamber during an open position of said valve, and an electrode carried within the opening of said head whereby during the open position of said valve said electrode is in operative relation with respect to said combustion chamber and during the closed position of said valve said electrode is disposed within said cavity and said valve element closes said port.

8. An internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder block, a combustion chamber in said block, said block including a valve port having a valve seat adapted to communicate with said combustion chamber, an ignition device comprising a tubular support having a first elongated bore, said support including a cavity adapted to communicate with said combustion chamber through said port, a valve reciprocally carried within said bore, said valve having a valve element adapted to engage said valve seat during a closed position for closing said port to isolate said cavity from said combustion chamber, said enlarged head having an opening spaced longitudinally from said valve element and adapted to communicate With said combustion chamber during an open position of said valve, and an electrode carried within the opening of said head whereby during the open position of said valve said electrode is positioned within said combustion chamber and during the closed position of said valve said electrode is disposed within said cavity and said valve element closes said port.

9. An internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder block with a combustion chamber and a valve port adapted to communicate with said chamber, an ignition device including, a valve support, said support having a cavity adjacent said port, a valve movably positioned within said cavity, means associated with said valve for moving the same toward said chamber whereby said port is opened, said means being adapted to move said valve in an opposite direction whereby said valve engages said port to close the same, said valve having a recess spaced from one end of said valve, and anigniter connected to said valve within said recess, said igniter being disposed in said cavity during the closed position of said valve and in said chamber during the open position of said valve.

10. An internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder block with a combustion chamber and a valve port adapted to communicate with said chamber, an ignition device including, a valve support, said support having a cavity adjacent said port, a valve movably positioned within said cavity, means associated with said valve for moving the same toward said chamber whereby said port is opened, said means being adapted to move said valve in an opposite direction whereby said valve engages said port to close the same, and an igniter connected to said valve, said igniter being disposed in said cavity during the closed position of said valve and in said chamber during the open position of said valve.

11. An internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder block, said block including a combustion chamber in said block, a valve port having a valve seat adapted to communicate with said combustion chamber, an ignition device comprising a tubular support having a first elongated bore, said support including a cavity adapted to communicate with said combustion chamber through said port, a valve having a valve stem slidingly supported in said first bore for reciprocation of said valve, said valve having an enlarged head positioned within said cavity, a valve element on said head adapted to engage said valve seat during a closed position for closing said port to isolate said cavity from said combustion chamber, said valve stem having a second elongated bore, an electrical conductor positioned within said second bore, said enlarged head having an opening spaced longitudinally from said valve element and adapted to communicate with said combustion chamber during an open position of said valve, an electrode carried within the opening of said head and connected to said conductor, whereby during the open position of said valve said electrode is in operative relation with respect to said combustion chamber and during the closed position of said valve said electrode is disposed within said cavity and said valve element closes said port.

References Qited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,276,351 Halsey Aug. 20, 1918 2,190,348 Bach Feb. 13, 1940 2,277,130 Miller Mar. 24, 1942 

